SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CNY Central) — New York retailers and food stores must now accept cash payments under a new state law that took effect this week, making it illegal for covered businesses to refuse cash.
The law also bars businesses from charging customers a higher price for paying in cash.
The change raises questions for several cashless venues in Central New York, including the JMA Dome, Lakeview Amphitheater and the state fairgrounds.
Legal experts say those venues will have to begin accepting cash for certain purchases.
“Food stores and retail establishments are the businesses that are covered by this law. And a food store is defined as any establishment that sells food. So that sounds like, you know, booths at the state fair. The dome. Yeah, the restaurants at the dome. Any other kind of, you know, any other kind of stadium or anything like that that’s going to, I believe, we’ll see what happens is the law is still new,” said Jared Cook, senior counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC.
Cook said one key issue could be how different operations within a venue are classified.
“What kind of an interesting question becomes, are those considered separate businesses, separate food stores, or are they considered part of the same establishment? Because if they’re if they’re separate, then, you know, the food places might have to accept cash. The place where they’re selling the goods, souvenirs, things like that. They may have to accept cash, but the ticket office may not,” Cook said.
Businesses that accept cash are not required to take bills larger than $20.
